Editor Neil Gaiman Venerated at The Artwork of Elysium’s 2024 Heaven Gala – WWD

Heaven is a library — within the thoughts of Neil Gaiman, no less than.

The English scribbler introduced the concept to week on degree at The Wiltern, reworking the L.A. tune venue with the aid of his longtime collaborator, manufacturing dressmaker Michael Ralph.

“I told him I wanted a heaven that would be a library and a refuge, and he made it for us,” stated Gaiman.

It was once for one night time just for The Artwork of Elysium’s 2024 Heaven Gala, an artist group that helps the underserved thru artwork and social alternate, the place Gaiman was once venerated with The Visionary Award on Saturday. He took the week to spotlight the worth of literature.

“Every time I see a library is under threat, I wince inside because I know that I would not be who I am if it wasn’t for libraries, if it wasn’t for having libraries to go to, if it wasn’t for having access as a child to all the stories, people’s stories, books, to librarians…I would never have grown up to be me,” he stated. “And I think about those kids, especially the ones right now in places like Florida, where books are being pulled off the shelves, who don’t have access. Literacy is so important. Life and libraries are important. And our stories are important…Our stories are the most valuable things that we have and they are as valuable as we share them.”

With playwright Jeremy O. Harris tapped as “librarian” emcee, the night was once stuffed with readings — Joseph Gordon-Levitt selected the foreword of Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death,” age Shanola Hampton took on “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” through Dr. Seuss. Patton Oswalt made the room chortle with a passage from “Tamarisk Row” through Gerald Murnane, as did Jon Hamm, reciting “Good Omens” — Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s 1990 album — which Gaiman tailored right into a fantasy-comedy tv sequence. Hamm is amongst its solid.

“Hot mic, hot mic,” Hamm stated. “You’ll have to excuse me…I can only hear the voices of the co-leads,” he went on, referencing his costars, Scottish actor David Tennant and Welsh actor Michael Sheen. “I’m going to do a ridiculous approximation of their accents. Bear with me.”

The target audience integrated Heidi Klum with daughter Leni; Joe Manganiello; Meredith Salenger; David and Patricia Arquette; Bella Thorne; Christina Hendricks, and Kumail Nanjiani.

The nonprofit additionally venerated actor Cara Santana for supporting its venture, in addition to actor Amy Canny and TV host Carter Oosterhouse for his or her charitable contributions.

“Healing through the arts is such an extraordinary mission, and this organization does incredible work,” stated Gaiman.

It was once a momentous year for the nonprofit, which celebrated its twenty fifth yearly. They marked the milestone with musical performances, too, bringing out Warpaint’s Theresa Wayman, who sang “Champion,” and Beck, terminating out the night time along with his crash “Loser.”